Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks

Session title: Climate Crisis: Shared Humanitarian Risk and Locally Led Adaptation

Organizer(s): LM International (Lakärmissionen), Climate Charter Secretariat

4 Mar 26 10:00-11:30 UTC+1

SessionAbstract

Climate crisis is no longer a future threat - it is a present and accelerating humanitarian risk that exacerbates food insecurity, displacement, public health emergencies, and conflict. According to the 2025 weather attribution report1, extreme weather events in 2025 affected hundreds of millions of people globally, with climate change significantly increasing the intensity and frequency of heatwaves, floods, and droughts. The report further highlights that the most severe impacts continue to fall on fragile and conflict-affected contexts, where adaptive capacity is lowest and exposure is highest. Addressing these challenges require collective action and a shift toward locally led, inclusive, and partnership-driven approaches, in line with the principles of the Climate Charter.

LM International (LM) has supported communities in fragile and conflict-affected contexts since 1958. Having operated in over 80 countries and currently active in 25 countries across Africa, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North America, LM has forged several cross-sectoral partnerships, particularly with local actors, to strengthen resilience, advance sustainable development, and safeguard planetary health. Localization is central to LM’s mission, implemented through its country offices and local partners. Many of the humanitarian settings in which it operates are already facing acute climate-related risks.

This session will examine climate crisis as a shared humanitarian risk and explore why locally led climate adaptation is essential to effective preparedness, response, and long-term resilience. Drawing on LM’s operational experience and partnerships, the session will highlight how climate change acts as a risk multiplier - intensifying food insecurity, displacement, health challenges, and instability while also demonstrating the limitations of top-down or externally driven approaches. The session will be a moderated discussion with frontline practitioners and partners from climate-affected contexts. Through lived experience and practical examples, speakers will share how climate change is affecting daily life and humanitarian contexts, what locally driven adaptation strategies are already in place, and what barriers continue to limit community-led action.

The session will conclude with key insights and practical takeaways for humanitarian actors, donors, and networks, including:

• Why climate risks must be understood as shared and interconnected.

• How shifting power and resources to local actors strengthens resilience.

• What this means for funding models, partnerships, and alignment with the Climate Charter.

By centering frontline voices and locally led adaptation, this session aims to contribute to more equitable, collaborative, and climate-resilient humanitarian action across the humanitarian system.

Speakers

Co-convener, Nishanie Jayamaha, Climate and Environment Charter Secretariat

Dr. Francisco Javier (Xavi) PÉREZ APARICIO, DG-ECHO

Michael Biphal, Executive Director Active Citizens, South Sudan

Mr. James Mugisha, LM International, South Sudan

Mr. Zakariya Abdou, Executive Director, West Africa Holistic Integration (WAHI), Sahel region

Mr. Tagele Mathewos Melkamu, Yehiwot Berhan Church of Ethiopia Development Organization (YBCEDO).

Ms. Cynthia Abazie, LM International (Panel Moderator)

Ms. Isabella Olsson, LM International

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Francisco Javier (Xavi) PÉREZ APARICIO, DG ECHO

Mr. Pérez is a distinguished expert in humanitarian aid and disaster management. He is currently the Team Lead on Climate Change, Disaster Preparedness and Greening of Humanitarian Aid at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). His career is defined by a blend of high-level diplomacy and strategic policy, notably serving as Minister Counsellor at the EU Delegation to the US from 2018 to 2023. This followed a series of pivotal roles within DG ECHO, where he acted as Assistant to the Director General and Deputy Head of Unit for strategy, focusing on donor relations and international crisis coordination.

His expertise also extends to security and conflict resolution, having shaped civil-military coordination policies and served as a Political Advisor for the EU Special Representative for Sudan. Mr. Pérez’s journey began in academia at the Autonomous University of Barcelona before he joined the Commission in 1999 as a public health inspector. He holds a PhD in Veterinary Medicine with an MA in International Politics.

Nishanie Jayamaha, Climate and Environment Charter Secretariat

Nishanie Jayamaha is the Co-coordinator of the Secretariat for the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations. She has over 20 years of experience working in the United Nations, International Organisations, Government institutions, NGO, and private sectors in a variety of roles with expertise ranging from disaster management and risk reduction, humanitarian and early recovery response and coordination, protection, access negotiations, gender, civic space, learning and climate change. She started her humanitarian career in Sri Lanka following the Indian Ocean Tsunami and has worked at country, regional and HQ levels on policy and practice. She has worked with UN OCHA, the World Humanitarian Summit and the Grand Bargain secretariats, Professionals in Humanitarian Action and Protection (PHAP), the Centre for Women’s Research and was the Climate and Learning lead for the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA).

Nishanie has a master’s in international relations from the University of Colombo and a bachelor’s degree in English, Sociology, and Psychology from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. She has also undertaken studies in child psychology and diplomacy.

Michael Biphal, Executive Director Active Citizens, South Sudan

Michael Biphal is a seasoned humanitarian professional and a prominent advocate for youth and women’s rights. As a specialist in policy simulation and national reform, Mr. Biphal works to bridge the gap between grassroots vulnerability and high-level policy making. His expertise focuses on the intersection of education and environmental crisis, specifically addressing the socio-economic and political impacts of climate change.

He holds a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Education in Emergencies, bringing a sophisticated academic and practical lens to his work in civil society and nation-building.

He is currently the Executive Director for Active Citizens, a national NGO in South Sudan.

Mr. Zakariya Abdou, Executive Director, West Africa Holistic Integration (WAHI), Sahel region

He hails from Niger and has been a longstanding development practitioner fighting poverty for more than 30 years. He was Coordinator of the Poverty Reduction Support Fund at the Canadian Embassy in Niamey, Niger from 2002 to 2005 and Regional Director of Stromme Foundation, a Norwegian NGO from 2006 to 2019.

He holds a master’s degree in project management from Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium and a Postgraduate degree in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute of Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland.

He is currently the founder of the West Africa Holistic Integration (WAHI), an NGO based in Mali operating in the areas of food security, health, nutrition, education and peace building.

Mr. Tagele Mathewos Melkamu, Yehiwot Berhan Church of Ethiopia Development Organization (YBCEDO).

Tagele Mathewos Melkamu is an accomplished development professional and program manager with an academic background in Theology and Social Anthropology. With over a decade of experience, he has led initiatives in disaster response, community development, peace building, trauma healing and disaster risk reduction.

He currently serves as the Program Manager at Yehiwot Berhan Church of Ethiopia Development Organization (YBCEDO), where he oversees programs focused on resilience building, food security, child sponsorship and sustainable community transformation. He is also activity involved in climate resilience building and agroforestry initiatives in Hawassa City.

James Mugisha, LM International

James Mugisha is a seasoned development and humanitarian practitioner with extensive experience across Uganda, Niger, and South Sudan. Currently serving as the Program Manager for LM International in South Sudan, Mr. Mugisha provides strategic oversight in program design, compliance, and stakeholder engagement. His technical expertise encompasses resilience, livelihoods, WASH, and peacebuilding, with a proven track record in advancing gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive interventions. Having previously held leadership roles with ADRA, IAS, and LWF, he holds a master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation. James has an unwavering commitment to inclusive development within fragile contexts.

Cynthia Abazie, LM International – Panel Moderator

Cynthia is a human rights lawyer and humanitarian professional with extensive experience leading international programs across Nigeria, Ghana, Australia, and Sweden. Specializing in gender inclusion, social justice, and governance, Cynthia has a proven track record of managing multi-country, donor-funded initiatives that empower women and marginalized communities. She holds a Bachelor of Laws, a master’s in policy and governance from the University of Queensland, and a master’s in Peace and Conflict Studies from Uppsala University.

She is based in Sweden and currently serves as the Global Program Manager, Humanitarian Affairs overseeing high-impact interventions focused on ensuring accountability to affected populations and quality assurance in LM’s humanitarian programming. Cynthia is also a member of the capacity strengthening group for Charter for Change and the Swedish Network for Humanitarian Actors.

Isabella Olsson, LM International

Isabella Olsson is Head of Global Advocacy at LM International, leading Advocacy efforts in fragile and conflict-affected settings. She combines extensive field experience in the Sahel and Lake Chad region with high-level policy engagement to drive systemic reform. Isabella serves on the board of CONCORD Sweden, where she strengthens coalition-building and strategic advocacy across European and global platforms. She previously worked at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and holds a master’s degree in international development from Sciences Po, Paris. Isabella is passionate about bringing the perspectives and priorities of affected communities to the forefront of global policy.